Process of producing moving pictures from plastic materials.



C. L. SUDMANN & W. D. HOPKINS.

PROCESS OF PRODUCING MOVING PICTURES FROM PLASTIC MATERIALS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, IBIS.

Patented-Sept. 19, 1916.

ATTORNE I CHARLES L. SUDMANN AND WILLIE D. HOP

ASSIGNOR TO ACORN MOVIE CARTOON C KINS, OF DALLAS, TEXAS; SAID SUDMANNOMPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

PROCESS OF PRODUCING MOVING PICTURES FROM PLASTIC MATERIALS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 1, 1916. Serial No. 94,808.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, CHARLES L. SUD- MANN andWILIJJZ D. HOPKINS, citizens of the United States, residing at Dallas,in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, have invented certain newand useful Im provements in a Process of Producing Moving Pictures fromPlastic Materials, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to new and useful improvements in methods andmeans for producing moving picture subjects and 1 object or subject froma lump or lumps of pictures therefrom.

The primary feature of the invention resides in the evolution of apredetermined plastic material and it isquite evident that a processmany modifications and be carried out by producing a support and thenmodeling thereon by a building up method, the object in mind, the objectseeming to grow and animate without the aid of human hands, or with theaid as desired.

,The idea may also be carried out by modeling from a lump, a figure orobject which may be bodily moved into various positions or caused toappear as moving. The modeling or building up process permits of manyartistic and mystifying. effects as well as 'vivid animation.

In carrying'out the invention a skeleton or adjustable support may beprovided and the modeling built upon the same either with or without aback-ground which may be or may not be simultaneously developed. In. thecase of a figure being modeled around a pliable skeleton, saidfigure'may be displaced with reference to the background and made toassume different postures and depict certain emotions or animations. Theprocess may be carried out in connection with a suitable back-ground andcertain complete objects depicting a scene in which the modeled'objectdevelops from a rock or other part of the scene. The work isphotographed during its various stages of development on a cinematographfilm.

Other features of the invention will be apparent from a perusal of thefollowing specification and the'invention will be more readilyunderstood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which examplesof the invention are shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 shows a figure builtup on a pliable skeleton and a back-groundsimultaneously developed, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a scenicdevice used in depicting a scene in which completed figures or "objectsare used in conjunction with the modeling, Fig. 3 is a view of the earlystages in the evolution of a hunter from a rock, and Fig. 4 is acontinuation of the same;

In all of the figures except Fig. 1 strips of moving picture film arerepresented and these are divided as the successive pictures wouldappear on the film. It is to be understood that the strip shown is verymuch condensed as there would have to be several pictures or exposuresof each stage whereas' only one picture of each stage is shown. As arule it is necessary-to make at least sixteen exposures of a stage orpicture in order that same may be held before the vision of the audiencefor a period of required duration as an insufficient number of exposureswould make the stages or steps of the modeling move so fast as to beunobse'rvable. It is apparent that the greater the number of exposuresthe longer the picture will remain before the eye and the slower thatparticular stage or step of the modeling will appear to be, whileconversely the step may be expedited by eliminating some of theexposures.

In making the exposures the photographer first photographs the supportand its background or a scene and after the required number of exposuresare made the camera is closed while the artist places the first lump ofclay or other material on the support or stage. Clay, wax or othermodeling material may be used and the use of the word clay is not to beconsidered a limitation. After placing the lump of clay the artist stepsback and the required number of exposures of this picture or stage aremade. The artist then places more clay on the model and any number ofstages and the multiplicity of exposures of each are made. Thephotographing may start with the completed object and only theanimations and movement of the latter photographed or the photographingmay begin with the support and go through the entire modeling andmanipulating stages. It is pointed out that both the number of stagesand the particular number of exposures of each are matters which must begoverned largely according Patented Sept. 19, 1916! a strip of filmshowing to the judgment and skill of the artist and the photographer. Inthe finished film which is projected on the screen the object or figuremust appear to grow or develop and animate in a pleasing and interestingmanner. Enough ictures or stages of development and animation must bephoto- .graphed, and a suflicient number of exposures of each stage mustbe made, to give the film a smooth and continuous projection whenexhibited so as to eliminate gaps and jumps in the continuity of theevolution.

The object being modeled on an adjustable support is capable of beingmade to assume various positions and may be bodily moved from one placeto another. This support may be surrounded by the clay or the clay maybe merely deposited on the support which latter can be of any suitableconstruction. Further while the support is adjustable it is apparentthat certain anima tions of the object may be had without adjusting thesupport, but by merely manipulating the features or other parts of theobject. Of course where an arm or a leg was moved the support would beadjusted in such a movement.

A wire skeleton may be placed against a smooth back-ground and theback-ground scene and the man built up at the same time. After the manis completed the figure may distorted with relation to the back-groundand different postures and antics-depicted. In fact the figureof the manmay be moved about over the back-ground as desired and it willbe seenthat other figures and objects a material to carry out the scene. InFig. 3

the parts numbered appear as a scene, to

which is added a second rock 10. This rock 10 in the successive picturesis developed as shown in Fig. 4 into a hunter shooting at the animal.The completed figure of the hunter is shown in Fig. 2 and it is evidentthat it may be moved about on the platform together with the animal androck 9 as desired. In this way any story may be interestinglyillustrated.

What we claim is 1. The process of producing moving pictures fromsubjects modeled 1n*p1a'stic material, which includes providing anobject of plastic material modeled on an adjustable support and capableof manipulation, manipulating the completed object whereby it is made toportray and depict various animations, and photogra hing the object inits different positions 0 animation.

2; The process of producing moving pictures, which consists in providingan adjustable support, depositing lumps of plastic material on thesupport until a complete object is produced, photographing the differentstages of the work, manipulating. the completed object whereby it ismade to assume different expressions and postures,

and photographing the different positions of the object.

3. The process of producing movin pictures, which consists in providinga 0 ily movable and adjustable support, modeling an object in plasticmaterial on said support, photographin the modeling work during itsstages 0 development, manipulating the object to give it animation, andphotographing said object in various positions.

4. An article of manufacture for use in the production of movingpictures, including an adjustable support, and plastic materialmodeled'on the support, said article being capable of manipulation anddistortion..

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures. I

CHARLES L. SUDMANN. WILLIE D. HOPKINS.

